Family, Rock Climbing, Training, Public Speaking and Life.

Fixed Rope

Over the years I have used a lot of fixed line while new routing. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t get a core shot while working on a multi-pitch route. Something about a rock falling on a line always from hundreds of feet above seems to make even the toughest ropes cut like butter.

Ropes run over the rock, smooth walls, rough edges, tree branches, small sharp sticks/twigs, loose blocks, ice and anything else that you can think of. On walls this big (2000 feet +), whether you are coming in from the top or going ground up you have to expect to constantly be shifting the location of the ropes and that they will get damaged.

We have gone ground up on this new line because that is the only way to get to the top. It has been slow going due to the cold and unknown, but that is the nature of the game. With just scoping from the ground, we have been able to find a new route that is all free to the high point. So far the hike to the wall is about one hour + or – your fitness and it takes around 2 hours of jugging to get to our high point. I can’t wait to get back on the wall in a couple more days. I am just hoping that it’s a little bit warmer next time!